Pants to cancer as drug campaigner reveals how she overcame nerves to strip for fundraising M&S adverts

Mum of four Lesley – who fought for life-extending drug Kadcyla to be made available for all in Scotland who need it – is making the most out of every moment in life after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2014.

Mum Lesley Stephen jumped at the chance to model for a new national M&S campaign raising awareness and funds to fight breast cancer.

But she almost changed her mind when she realised it meant having her photo taken in her underwear.

Lesley, from Edinburgh, admitted: “I dithered, then my husband said, ‘You look great – what have you got to lose?’ So I thought ‘I’ll just go for it.’”

The mum of four – who fought for life-extending drug Kadcyla to be made available for all in Scotland who need it – is making the most out of every moment in life after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2014.

The new campaign puts the spotlight on the UK’s leading breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now, in October – which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Lesley, front centre, and her co-stars in the campaign

The 51-year-old was joined by six other women from across the UK who have also been affected by breast cancer to model pink bras from the store.

M&S will be donating 20 per cent of sales from those products to Breast Cancer Now throughout this month.

Lesley explained: “Most women aren’t very body-confident at the best of times so couple that with having had children and being on permanent cancer treatment.

“Then I thought, ‘If I can do it, then anyone can.’

“At the photoshoot, although we were all very anxious initially, within an hour or so we were loving it.

“It was very empowering and liberating.

Lesley is encouraging women never to give up even when things look bleak (Image: Daily Record)

“At the start of the day, people were wandering around in their dressing gowns and by the end, they were strutting about like they were ElleMacpherson, brimming with confidence.

“It was one of the best experiences of my life and has given me loads more confidence.

“Because I’m stage 4, I will never be cured of it so I’ve had to go to some very dark places in the last three-and-a-half years or so of a rollercoaster of treatment.

“In a way, standing there in your underwear is a bit, ‘So what?’

“It’s absolutely not the worst thing that could happen to you. I’ve already had one of the worst things that could happen.”

Earlier this year, Lesley was involved in a campaign backed by the Daily Record, working with Breast Cancer Now, calling for the crucial drug Kadcyla to be made available for all who need it.